Animal advocates seek ban on leaving pets in hot cars

So say two Pennsylvania women who are petitioning their congressmen to support such a bill.

More than 35,000 people all over the globe have signed the online petitions of Nicole Mong of York and Valerie Burgess of Factoryville.

"I understand many of the signatures are from other countries, which might lead some to wonder if it will carry any weight," Burgess said. "While I had hoped for more signatures from the United States, I think it is also important to show that other countries are also aware of the need for new legislation and are watching to see the response to this petition. There are currently laws in place, but only in 14 states."

Pennsylvania is not one of the states with a law specifically prohibiting the confinement of a pet inside a parked vehicle. But someone leaving Bowser to roast in the back seat with the windows up can be prosecuted for animal cruelty under the state's crimes code. A person can be charged with a summary offense for:

— Neglecting or ill-treating an animal in his or her care.

— Transporting an animal in a cruel or inhumane manner. Authorities also may seize the animal and the vehicle.

The inside of a car heats up quickly, especially in the sun. On an 80-degree day the inside of a car can reach 99 degrees in 10 minutes and 114 degrees in a half hour, according to VeterinaryClinic.com.

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"On a hot day, a parked car can become a furnace in no time, even with the windows open, which could lead to fatal heat stroke," says Dr. Louise Murray, vice president of the ASPCA Animal Hospital.

The ASPCA recommends never leaving animals alone in a parked vehicle.

"Obviously, there are times when your animal needs to be in a car — going to the vet or the dog park, whatever — but it becomes an issue when people stop to run errands along the way," said Jennifer Vanderau, communications director for the Cumberland Valley Animal shelter. "I know with gas prices the way they are, we all try to make trips in one go and not run back and forth, but when it concerns the welfare of your pet, please consider making a second trip.

"Going to the vet should be driving to the vet and back home. Same with the dog park. It's better and safer for all involved."

Burgess said the alarming number of news stories about animals dying in hot cars motivated her to start her petition. Most recently in British Columbia, six dogs apparently perished from heat exhaustion in the back of a locked vehicle while the dog walker went in to a business. The dog walker then hid the bodies in a ditch, according to authorities.

"Although that news is from Canada, it was the final straw and I knew something needed to be done," said Burgess, who is enrolled in college to become a veterinary technician. "At the very least I hope my petition helps spread awareness about this problem. I think many pet owners do not even realize how dangerous hot cars really are and just how quickly an animal can die in hot temperatures."

She plans to present her petition to U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, in a week or two. Mong's petition will be presented to U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-York.

Keeping an eye on parking lots would be a new role for the federal government. Federal dog laws currently prohibit interstate movement of animals for fighting, govern the sale of dogs and cats to research centers and forbid the import or export of dog and cat fur. Federal law also allows for public planning to accommodate pets during an emergency and requires public housing to accommodate service dogs.

Jim Hook can be reached at 717-262-4759.

What you can do

What can you do if you see a distressed cat or dog in a parked vehicle?

"The only person allowed to break into a vehicle is a law enforcement officer, be it the police or the cruelty officer," said Jennifer Vanderau, communications director for Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter. "One of the biggest issues here is that the dog has to be in clear, obvious, serious distress — severe panting, passing out etc. — before anyone can break into a car. A private citizen should not break into a car."

A person seeing a distressed animal can try to locate the driver, who often can get to the vehicle more quickly than law enforcement can, she said.

"They should call either the police or the cruelty officer," Vanderau said, "but their best bet would be to take down the license plate number, make and model of the vehicle and go into the store where the car is parked and make an announcement over the loud speaker."

Most of the 14 states that specifically address leaving a domestic animal unattended or confined in a parked vehicle say the condition must endanger the animal's life for a person to be charged, according to AnimalLaw.com.

Maryland's law broadens endangerment to an animal's "health or safety." The Maryland law also specifically states who can force open a vehicle to save a dog or cat — a police officer, cruelty officer, animal control officer, firefighter or public safety officer.

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